Last Updated 1 Aug 2024
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Astra 4.4 – Exciting New Features To Improve Your Website

Quick Summary ↪ Astra 4.4 introduced several new features like detailed control over featured images, a new filter for categories and tags, a sticky sidebar, customizable outline buttons, page-level background settings, and improved live search. Discover how Astra 4.4's new features can streamline your website management.

Astra 4.4 announcement

We started 2023 with a bang when we released Astra 4.0. It brought a completely new design that made our WordPress theme easier to use and more intuitive than ever!

We didn’t stop there though.

That’s why we’re announcing Astra 4.4!

Astras 4.4 brings new features in the backend and frontend so that both you and your users can enjoy a new way of interacting with your website.

We’re excited to share this new update with you, so read on to see what’s in Astra 4.4!

New Astra 4.4 Features That Will Make Your Life Easier

This is what you’ll find once you hit the update button and update to Astra 4.4.

New Featured Image Options

Now you can control in detail what your featured image looks like in posts and pages.

If you go to Customizing > Single Post > Post Title, you’ll see that there now you can determine how you want it to be displayed in relation to your content.

Featured image controls Astra 4.4

You can define the image position to:

  1. None
  2. Below the content, which offers a more classic look

You can also define the ratio of the image:

  • Keep the original ratio
  • Use a standard size (1:1, 4:3, 16:9 or 2:1)
  • Or use custom sizes

In addition to the ratio you can also choose the size of the image. From thumbnail to full size, through standard sizes and custom dimensions.

From now on it will be much easier for you to display the featured image as you want without having to use code.

A New Filter for Categories and Tags

This new feature is huge and we’re so excited to announce it.

The new filter function in Astra 4.4 adds the ability to filter blog posts by category or tag.

It’s a small, but powerful feature. One that previously needed a standalone plugin to provide. It is now built into the Astra WordPress theme.

From the Customizing > Blog / Archive section, you can now enable post filters.

Post filters Astra 4.4

You can choose between 2 styles, and define whether you want the filtering to be based on categories or tags.

And yes, you can exclude any tag or category you don’t want to show!

This is super handy for users as the content will be filtered without the need to reload the page.

Sticky Sidebar

Surely by now you already know and use our sticky header!

Astra 4.4 introduces the new sticky sidebar. Once you update, your sidebar content can always accompany users while they scroll.

Sticky sidebar Astra 4.4

This is ideal for adding elements that you want to be always present, such as an advertising frame, call to action or newsletter subscription box.

You can easily activate this functionality from Customizing > Sidebar.

Outline Buttons

From now on it will be easier than ever to modify the appearance of the “outline” buttons. Those that are usually used as secondary calls to action.

You can modify all the design parameters from Customizing > Buttons.

Customize Buttons Astra 4.4

From here you can modify the style, colors, font and more to adapt the final result to your liking.

New Editor To Modify Background Settings at Page-Level

Do you want to give a unique look to a particular page of your website?

Instead of making the changes from Customizing > Colors > Surface Color, simply open the advanced settings of the specific page.

Surface colors per page

There you’ll find the option to modify the background and content color independently of the theme.

The changes will only apply to the page you are working on, not the site as a whole.

Improved Live Search

We have also improved our live search module to make your website look even more professional in Astra 4.4.

If you add the search module from the header builder, you will see that it is now possible to activate a full-screen search style.

This is fully compatible with live search and honestly, we think it looks neat!

Live Search Astra 4.4

You can modify some parameters here, such as the color style of the box, or the text placeholders you want to use.

Ready to Start Enjoying Astra 4.4?

This update includes many new features that will help you further refine the design of your website.

You can better define the style of the secondary buttons, the content and background colors per page, how the live search appears or the position and size of the featured image.

Astra 4.4 also includes functional improvements such as blog filters or the sticky sidebar that will make your blog more usable without having to install third-party plugins.

We really hope you enjoy these new features!

Let us know in the comments below which one is your favorite and what would you like us to include in future releases!

Our devs are listening…

Article by
Sujay Pawar
LinkedInTwitter

Sujay Pawar is the co-founder and CEO of Brainstorm Force. He brings a one-of-a-kind fusion of tech brilliance, business savvy and marketing mojo to the table. Sujay has consistently spearheaded the development of innovative products like Astra, CartFlows, ZipWP and many others that have become market leaders in their respective niches.

Disclosure: This blog may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may receive a small commission. Read disclosure. Rest assured that we only recommend products that we have personally used and believe will add value to our readers. Thanks for your support!

4 comments
  1. Mario Profile Pic

    Hi there.
    When I enable sticky sidebar this only adds a vertical scroll bar to the sidebar, and it also keeps scrolling. Any ideas?
    Thx

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